Asked by: Munira Wilson (Liberal Democrat - Twickenham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an estimate of the potential planning costs for the delivery of a third runway at Heathrow.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government recognises the importance of making sure that any scheme for Heathrow expansion is both deliverable and affordable. It is for potential promoters to develop plans for expansion as part of their Development Consent Order application. As the independent economic regulator for expansion, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) will determine the recovery of costs incurred by potential promoters of expansion.
Asked by: Munira Wilson (Liberal Democrat - Twickenham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the economic and environmental review of Heathrow expansion has been completed.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The economic and environmental review of Heathrow expansion is ongoing. We intend to consult on a revised Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS), which will include the proposed outcomes of the review, in summer this year. The review will not be complete until the final ANPS (post-consultation) is laid in Parliament, which we intend to do by the end of the year.
Asked by: Munira Wilson (Liberal Democrat - Twickenham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of Heathrow Airport's debt on her policies on a third runway at Heathrow.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
As a private company, Heathrow Airport's financing decisions are a matter for the airport. Since this is a private sector project, it is up to the potential promoters to develop and finance expansion proposals, and to demonstrate that any scheme is financially viable.
Asked by: Munira Wilson (Liberal Democrat - Twickenham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of Heathrow Airport's debt.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
As a private company, Heathrow Airport's financing decisions are a matter for the airport. Since this is a private sector project, it is up to the potential promoters to develop and finance expansion proposals, and to demonstrate that any scheme is financially viable.
Asked by: Munira Wilson (Liberal Democrat - Twickenham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of Heathrow Airport expansion on the number of flights from a) London Gatwick, b) Manchester Airport, c) London Stansted, d) London Luton, e) Edinburgh Airport, f) Birmingham Airport, g) Glasgow Airport, h) Bristol Airport and i) Cardiff Airport.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government supports airport expansion where it is in line with the UK’s legal, climate and environmental obligations.
The Government has requested proposals for expansion at Heathrow to provide the capacity boost needed to support connectivity and growth. As part of this we are undertaking a review of the Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS), the modelling for which will consider the impacts of expansion at Heathrow, including on other UK airports. Any updates to the ANPS will be consulted on in the summer.
Asked by: Munira Wilson (Liberal Democrat - Twickenham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if the consultation on the draft ANPS will include community engagement events across a) London and b) the wider regions.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Engagement during the consultation on any revised Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS) draft will be proportionate to the amendments that are made. This will be considered as part of the ANPS review process.
In line with the Planning Act 2008, any consultation on a revised ANPS will be appropriately publicised ensuring that affected communities and authorities are properly notified and able to engage in the consultation.
Asked by: Munira Wilson (Liberal Democrat - Twickenham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much her Department has spent on legal advice for Heathrow Airport expansion.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department receives legal advice from the Government Legal Department under an agreed annual fee for legal services provided across the Department, rather than on a matter-by-matter basis. Where external legal advice has been required in relation to Heathrow Airport expansion, the Department has met these costs in line with standard procurement and legal spending processes.
Asked by: Munira Wilson (Liberal Democrat - Twickenham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to support the innovation and development of second and third generation sustainable aviation fuel.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
We are encouraging the innovation and development of sustainable aviation fuels through a number of policy measures: The SAF Mandate, introduced in January 2025, generates a demand for advanced fuels by capping HEFA SAF and having targets for second and third generation SAFs.
We also encourage the development of such fuels through the Advanced Fuels Fund which is providing £63m to support 17 projects this year across a range of advanced SAF development including power-to-liquid. Support for the development of second and third generation SAFs will continue through the upcoming spending review period.
We also fund the UK SAF Clearing House, which coordinates the testing and qualification of SAF. Over £223k of grant funding for fuel testing has been awarded since 2024.
Asked by: Munira Wilson (Liberal Democrat - Twickenham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what external organisations are feeding into the review of the Airports National Policy Statement.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
We have procured external experts to help inform our understanding of the links between air connectivity and the economy, and to undertake an Appraisal of Sustainability, Habitats Regulations Assessment, Health Impact Analysis and Equalities Impact Assessment to consider the environmental, social and economic impacts of Heathrow expansion.
We are engaging with a range of external stakeholders to discuss the Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS) review process and understand their views, as per the published Statement of Approach on Engagement. We have also requested technical information from Heathrow Airport Limited, as a potential promoter of the scheme informing the ANPS review, and as current airport operator, to inform the ANPS review, which has been published here.
Asked by: Munira Wilson (Liberal Democrat - Twickenham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will publish the (a) Aviation Night Noise Effects study and (b) Aviation Noise Attitudes Survey before the review of the Airports National Policy Statement is completed.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Aviation Night Noise Effects and Aviation Noise Attitudes studies are currently being completed and are expected to be ready for publication before the review of the Airports National Policy Statement is concluded.